What is Head and Neck Cancer?

Head and neck cancer involves the tissues of the head and neck. These may be primary, i.e., start in the head or neck, or secondary, i.e., spread to the neck or neck from other organs. They begin from the salivary gland, sinuses, muscles, or nerves. These cancers most commonly occur in the squamous cell, which is present in the linings of the head and neck. Squamous cell cancer is more often related to the history of smoking and exposure to the Human Papillomavirus.

Overall, Asia, particularly India, accounts for 57.5 percent of global head and neck malignancies. In India, head and neck cancers accounted for 30% of all malignancies. Patients in India have advanced disease in 60 to 80 percent of cases, compared to 40 percent in developed countries.

Medica’s oncology department excels in providing world-class cancer treatment driven by their collective clinical excellence of over 30+ years. With a multidisciplinary approach to treating all types and forms of cancer, our oncologists and onco-surgeons are supported by the latest cancer treatment technologies along with a team of highly-skilled reconstructive surgeons who deliver extensive treatment to all of our patients, adults and children alike.

The exact reasons why these cancers develop is unknown. However, researchers believe that head and neck cancer can be caused due to excessive use of tobacco and alcohol, primarily when cancer affects the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypo-pharynx, and larynx region. In addition, the human Papillomavirus is also a cause of head and neck cancer.

Other Risk Factors

The risk factor of head and neck cancer are:

• Pan (Betel Nut): This can be responsible for causing oral cancer.
• Consuming Preserved or Salty Food: Consumption of various preserved and salted food can be responsible for nasopharyngeal cancer.
• Poor Oral Health: Poor oral health and poor dental health may cause oral cancer.
• Occupational Exposure: People who are more often exposed to wood dust can develop larynx cancer.
• Radiation Exposure: Radiation to the neck and head can cause salivary gland cancer.
• Epstein Barr Infection: Exposure to viruses such as Epstein Barr infection may be the causative factor for nasopharyngeal and salivary gland cancer.
• Family History: The person might have a chance of developing cancer if someone in the family had head and neck cancer.

The following are the phases of head and neck cancer:

Stage 0: This is the very beginning of the scale, also known as carcinoma in situ. It refers to aberrant cells in the affected area’s lining that have the potential to become cancerous.

Stage I:The term “stage I” refers to a very early stage of cancer. The tumor is only two millimeters in diameter. The cancer hasn’t spread to any lymph nodes yet.

Stage II: A tumor that is greater than two centimeters but not more than four centimeters is classified as Stage II. The lymph nodes have not been affected by stage II malignancy.

Stage III:Stage III head and neck cancer refers to tumors that are more than four centimeters in diameter or that have spread to a lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and are less than three centimeters in diameter.

Stage IV: The most advanced stage of head and neck cancer is Stage IV. The tumor could be any size, but it has expanded to the following areas:

• A neighboring tissue or other head and neck locations.
• One large lymph node (more than three centimeters in diameter) on the same side of the neck as the tumor, many lymph nodes of any size on the same side of the neck as the tumor, or one lymph node of any size on the side of the neck opposite the tumor.
• Has spread to regions of the body other than the head and neck, including the lungs

When head and neck cancer is initially discovered, it may be at stage IV. Recurrent head and neck cancer is a possibility in stage IV head and neck cancer. The term “recurrent” refers to a cancer that has returned following treatment. The cancer may return in the same area of the body where it first appeared (regional recurrence), in the lymph nodes (regional relapse), or in a different portion of the body (regional relapse) (distant recurrence).

If diagnosed in the early stages, head and neck cancer have a good outcome. During diagnosis, your physician may order a diagnostic test and perform a physical examination.

These tests and exams may include:

• Physical Examination: In a physical exam, the physician might check the health of the oral and nasal cavity. He may also look for lumps on the neck, lips, and gums.
• Diagnostics Test: The doctor may also advise the following tests in case he is convinced that there might be head or neck cancer:
  • Endoscopy for voice box, throat, and nasal cavity evaluation.
  • Blood test
  • Urine test
  • Head and neck X-ray
  • CT- scans
  • MRI
  • Biopsy
  • Pee test
  • HPV test

The head and neck cancer treatment depends on the following situations:

• Location of cancer
• Stage of cancer
• Age and overall health of the patient

The following procedures are done during the treatment of cancer-

Surgery: During this procedure, the doctor removes the cancerous tumour. If cancer has spread in the surrounding lymph nodes, the doctor may also remove the lymph nodes.

Radiation: The doctor kills the cancerous cells by using high-energy radiation. However, radiation therapy may have the risk of damaging the other tissues.

Chemotherapy: Several drugs kill the cancerous cells by interfering with their growth and division. The doctor administers these drugs during the chemotherapy regimen. The chemotherapy involves several cycles of drug administration.

Target therapy: The drugs targets protein, genes, and other vital processes of cancer cells.

Immunotherapy: With this therapy, the doctor boosts the immune system, which can help to fight against cancer.